The Department of Chemical & Process Engineering is one of the largest such departments in the UK. We have strong links with employers worldwide and we're particularly pleased with our graduates’ excellent record of achievement.

What you’ll study

You’ll focus on basic principles and fundamentals of chemical engineering as well as core chemical engineering areas such as process analysis and statistics, fluid flow and heat transfer and safety.

In the later years, the course covers areas such as reactors, biochemical engineering and materials and processes.

The final year of study offers a range of advanced options including modern process measurements, safety management, programming and optimisation, and molecular simulation and petroleum engineering.

Work placement

Our courses prepare you for the international scope of careers in chemical engineering and related areas such as research & development, finance and consultancy. You'll have many opportunities to gain work experience and international placements. Many students carry out their final-year MEng project in industry, with companies ranging from oil and gas consultancies to GlaxoSmithKline and Diageo.

You'll have opportunities to work on projects in research groups across Europe, via the Erasmus scheme, and for exchanges to other countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada and South East Asia. We encourage and support students to compete for summer internships with top companies such as BP, and to enter national and international student business and innovation competitions.

Major projects

Project work is core to your chemical engineering education, developing your ability to apply technical know-how, manage your time, communicate and negotiate within a team, make decisions and judgements and write and present reports.

The MEng degree incorporates a range of major design projects enabling you to bring to the fore your growing skills in chemical engineering, whether technical or related skills such as teamwork and management.

Year 3 of the degree features a mini design project, when you work in teams on aspects of plant and process design. In Year 4 the detailed and conceptual design projects cover a full semester. It involves independent work in teams, demanding skills ranging from technical calculation, decision making, communicating and reporting to research and innovation.

The final year of the MEng degree includes a one-semester project which can be carried out in industry, at one of our European Erasmus partners (in Sweden, France, Spain, the Czech republic, Italy, among others), or in one of the department’s leading research groups.

Other projects include a team-based Frontiers of chemical engineering project in Year 1, and various research projects throughout other classes.

Facilities

Our department has extensive teaching, research and computer laboratories, including newly-refurbished labs and new offices and computer rooms dedicated to chemical engineering. You'll be able to use the latest equipment, from microscopes and laser-scattering spectroscopy to adsorption analysers, continuous reactors and supercomputers.

As well as department facilities, there are many shared suites of equipment such as advanced atomic force and electron microscopes, large University computer laboratories and meeting spaces bookable by student teams.

Postgraduate study

Graduates have many options for further postgraduate study, including MSc taught degrees and PhD and MRes research degrees. The department regularly recruits the top graduates as PhD research students, giving you the opportunity to take your experience, interests and qualifications further.

Course awards

Staff in the department regularly receive nominations in the annual University-wide Teaching Excellence Awards, voted for by Strathclyde’s students. Staff have also been in receipt of external awards from organisations such as the IChemE and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Student competitions

There are many student prizes up for grabs, including industry scholarships and industry-sponsored awards and prizes for the top graduates and best projects. We encourage students to apply for competitive internship places with top employers and to enter business and innovation competitions.

Every year, chemical engineering students from across the UK enter the Frank Morton sports day, with Strathclyde’s students winning top prize in 2014.

Chemical Engineering by Distance Learning

The part-time distance learning BEng/MEng courses are closely aligned with the full-time courses. The course features access to the same resources and materials alongside virtual webinars, video lectures, electronic forums and more. The Distance Learning courses are particularly popular with students from across the world currently working in industry, who wish to enhance their education to degree level with a fully-accredited institution.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer

The final year of study offers a range of advanced options, including:

modern process measurements

safety management

petrochemical engineering

programming and optimisation

molecular simulation

The second semester is devoted to the chemical engineering project, which can involve an industry placement, researching at a partner European university or conducting research within our own department.

Assessment

Our assessment methods include:

formal exams

mid-term class tests

online tests and quizzes

written coursework and research projects

design and project reports

Providing feedback and guidance to students is key to our work. Ways we do this include video-recording student presentations and following up exams with feedback sessions.

Learning & teaching

The emphasis throughout the course is to help students develop their confidence and ability to take responsibility for their own work and learning. The transition from being taught to working and learning is an important feature of the degree programme. Our teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory and practical work.

Guest lectures

Many of our classes involve guest lecturers from industry, covering subjects from environment and safety, to the latest energy-efficient chemical plant design and the promise of the ‘digital oilfield’.

The Year 4 design project includes masterclasses on safety and risk analysis from oil and gas representatives, while MEng final-year classes include options on emerging technologies delivered by a number of highly experienced industrial engineers and scientists.

We also welcome a number of industry-based visiting professors from sectors including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and nuclear energy.

Entry requirements

Minimum grades

Required subjects are indicated following minimum accepted grades.

Highers

AAAAB (Maths A, Chemistry B, Physics B) ﻿

Advanced Highers

Maths, Chemistry and Physics recommended﻿

A Levels

Year 1 entry

BBB

Typical entry requirements: AAB (Maths, Chemistry, Physics)

Year 2 entry

AAB

Typical entry requirements: A*AA (Maths, Chemistry, Physics) ﻿

International Baccalaureate

36 (Maths HL6, Chemistry HL5, Physics HL5) ﻿

Additional Information

Deferred entry is accepted

Widening access

We want to increase opportunities for people from every background. Strathclyde selects our students based on merit, potential and the ability to benefit from the education we offer. We look for more than just your grades. We consider the circumstances of your education and will make lower offers to certain applicants as a result.

Fees & funding

How much will my course cost?

All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.

Scotland/EU

TBC

Rest of UK

2017/18: £9,250

The 2018-19 fee rate will be updated when it has been confirmed by the UK and Scottish Governments. Assuming no change in Rest of UK fees policy over the period, the total amount payable by undergraduate students will be capped. For students commencing study in 2017/18, this is capped at £27,750 (with the exception of the MPharm and Integrated Masters courses); MPharm students pay £9,250 for each of the four years. Students studying on Integrated Masters degree programmes pay an additional £9,250 for the Masters year with the exception of those undertaking a full-year industrial placement where a separate placement fee will apply.

International

2018/19: £18,750﻿

Scholarships

The department offers a range of industry-sponsored scholarship opportunities to undergraduate students in Chemical Engineering; all are awarded for student merit and can be highly competitive.

Placements & field trips

How can I fund my studies?

Students from Scotland and the EU

If you're a Scottish or EU student, you may be able to apply to the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. Scottish students may also be eligible for a bursary and loan to help cover living costs while at University.

Available scholarships

Careers

Chemical engineers are among the best rewarded engineers globally, and work across all sectors of industry from energy and foods to pharmaceuticals and medicine, as well as branching out into other areas such as finance and management.

The department works closely with the University Careers Service through every year of our course, to support students in building excellent employability skills and portfolios of experience.

Where are they now?

93% of our graduates are in work or further study.*

Recent job titles include:

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Process Engineer

Engineering Audit Intern

Graduate Commissioning Engineer

Petroleum Engineer

Polymer Scientist

Process Engineer

Process Improvement Analyst

Quality Assurance Associate

Research Assistant

Surface Operations Engineer

Technical Support Engineer

Recent employers include:

AMEC

Astrazeneca

Babcok

BP

Diageo

GlaxoSmithKline

Grant’s Whisky

Ineos

Scottish and Southern Engineering (SSE)

Shell

Weir Group

*Based on the results of the national Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (2010/11 and 2011/12).

Contact us

Apply

How to apply – 10 things you need to know

All undergraduate applications are made through UCAS
Go to the UCAS website to apply – you can apply for up to five courses.

It costs £12 to apply for a course
The cost is £23 for two to five courses.

The deadline is 15 January each year
This is the application deadline for most courses. However, please check the details for your particular course. View a full list of UCAS key dates.

You might be asked to attend an interview
Most of our courses make offers based on the UCAS application. However some might ask you to attend an interview or for a portfolio of work. If this is the case, this will be stated in the prospectus entry requirements.

It’s possible to apply directly to Year 2
Depending on your qualifications, you might be able to apply directly to Year 2 - or even Year 3 - of a course. Speak to the named contact for your course if you want to discuss this.

There’s three types of decision

unconditional – you’ve already met our entry requirements

conditional – we’ll offer you a place if you meet certain conditions, usually based on your exams

unsuccessful – we’ve decided not to offer you a place

You need to contact UCAS to accept your offer Once you’ve decided which course you’d like to accept, you must let UCAS know. You don’t need to decide until you’ve received all offers. UCAS will give you a deadline you must respond by.

You’ll choose one as your firm choice. If the offer is unconditional or if you meet the conditions, this is the course you’ll study.

You’ll also have an insurance choice. This is a back-up option if you don’t meet the conditions of your first choice.

You don’t need to send us your exam results (Scotland, England & Wales)
If you’re studying in Scotland, England or Wales, we receive a copy of your Higher/Advanced Higher/A Level results directly from the awarding body.
However, if you are studying a different qualification, then please contact us to arrange to send your results directly.

fill in the enquiry form to contact one of our multi-lingual Student Enrolment Advisers.

Here’s a really useful video to help you apply

This unique opportunity to study the BEng course by distance is very useful for people like myself who wish to build the industry experience while studying. It was not an easy task but I have gained a lot of theoretical knowledge which underpins my engineering decisions in my day to day work.

Zohrab Bagirov, Process Engineer at BP Azerbaijan

BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering distance learning graduate

This is a great course and it will definitely help me to boost my career. In fact I have already started receiving benefits. When my managers came to know that I am studying on my own, they upgraded my development plan where I can use my skills in better way which in turn can help me to get better appraisals and probably promotion in the future.

Jatinkumar Patel, Project Coordinator at Qatar Shell GTL

BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering distance learning graduate

The BEng (Hons) is a very flexible learning degree program where I completed my degree with a full time job along with giving time to my family and friends. Although it needed a continuous hard working but I still think it is the best choice available for the operators/technicians, working in the chemical and process industries, to build their career to the professional engineering level.

Muhammad Afzal, Control Room Operator at Qatar Petroleum Company

BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering distance learning graduate

Open day

Our open days include lectures and practical hands-on demonstrations throughout the year.